Super Typhoon Leon as of 10:00 p.m. on October 30, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASAMANILA — PAGASA has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, its highest level, in northern and eastern parts of Batanes as super typhoon “Leon” moves closer to the province.

As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, Leon was located 140 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 230 kph.

Under Signal No. 5, Itbayat and Basco may experience very strong winds, which can topple electric and communications posts, damage houses and uproot trees.

Signal No. 4 remains hoisted over the rest of Batanes, while the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.), and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana) is under Signal No. 3.

Signal No. 2, meanwhile, is raised over the following areas:

-- Rest of Babuyan Islands

-- Rest of mainland Cagayan

-- Northern portion of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Mallig, Maconacon)

-- Apayao

-- Northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)

-- Northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong)

-- Ilocos Norte

The rest of northern Luzon and parts of Cagayan Valley region are under Signal No. 1.

The track and intensity forecast of Super Typhoon Leon as of 11:00 p.m. on October 30, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASA

PAGASA said Batanes and Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, may experience intense to torrential rains until Thursday night, while Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands may experience heavy to intense rains.

Isabela, Kalinga, Benguet, Mountain Province, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Antique and Negros Occidental will also experience moderate to heavy rains until Thursday night.

Leon will be closest to Batanes from Wednesday night until Thursday morning.  A landfall in Batanes is not ruled out, PAGASA added.

The super typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday night to early Friday, after making landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon.